This school has gone through many name changes over the
years namely: "Bishop Foley Primary School"; "Christian Brother's
School"; "Christian Brother's Secondary School"; "The Academy"; "St.
Mary's Academy C.B.S". I hope the following will make the story of
the CBS a bit more clear.

The Christian Brother's - A Short History

by 'Carloman'

The Christian Brothers came to
Carlow in about 1859 and were based originally at no: 2 Montgomery
Street. I guess that the old school in College Street was originally a
primary school, the distinction between primary and secondary was
perhaps not defined then.

Growing up in Carlow in the
1950s boys went to St. Joseph's school which was an old 4 roomed
building with the dry toilets near the railway station on St Joseph's
Road and then you would progressed to the Christian Brothers school
(built c1936) around the corner on Railway Road, "The Bishop
Foley National School".

If they went on to second level
education they had a choice:

A - The Christian Brother's
Secondary School in College Street to do Intermediate and Leaving Cert
courses and examinations, three years to intermediate and then two years
to Leaving (no gap years back then). This school was always referred to
as "The Academy".

B - The Technical School
referred to as the "The Tech". This was run by the "County Carlow
Vocational Education Committee" (The VEC). The tech "headquarters" were
in the old Assembly Rooms in Dublin Street, the Metalwork and Woodwork
shops were at the rear ground floor and the secretarial and domestic
science kitchens were on the first floor together with some admin
offices. Classes were also held in 'The Irish National Foresters Hall',
College Street. The CYMS, College Street, Carlow Boat Club. This was a
two year course culminating with the Group Certificate of Examination.
This exam was essential if one wanted to become and apprentice to a
trade.

In 1963 the new two story
Secondary school opened next to the Bishop Foley School. I think that's
when St. Mary's the Academy came into vogue. I hope to be in Carlow this
weekend and will check, I think the plaque on the school on Railway Road
reads St Mary's Academy.

When the brother's moved from
College Street to the new School the Technical school moved into the
College Street premises. I had the distinction of starting my secondary
education in the old College Street School with the Brothers, moving to
the new School on Railway Road. The Tech classes were still spread out
over the above mentioned premises until the new building was opened on
Kilkenny Road next to the Regional College, Carlow's first secular third
level institution, now called the Carlow I.T. It was for a while called
the Austin Waldron College after a former chairman of the VEC.

How or why they missed the
opportunity to call it the John Tyndall College beats me, its too late
now as one of the foremost new institutions of learning based in Cork
City is called the Tyndall National Institute. http://www.tyndall.ie/

Christian Brothers pose with two past
pupils. The Brothers took great pride in the achievements of their
past pupils. Today, due to the drop in vocations, the Bishop Foley
school is staffed entirely by lay teachers. Pictured here are,
standing left to right: Brother PC. Lenihan, Br. PC. Tracy, Br. O.
Kenny, Br. E. Rodgers and Br. D. O’Neill. Front row: Fr. Finn,
Brother K. Moore and Fr. Johnson.

Above is an image of a receipt (Curtsey of
Carloman) for £6.00 fee for a half term.I discovered later that if you claimed you were "the poor
mouth" to the right brother would get you in for free in the first
year.

This receipt (Curtsey of Carloman)was issued by the Technical School (Carlow Vocational School)
and the fee of £1-10s was for a full term.

The initials are those of Pat O'Mahony,
Principle.

In the words of Mr Swan the CBS Gardner /
grounds man, this student "reneged on us" by switching from the
Academy to the "Tech".

To best of my knowledge names are correct as far as I can
remember perhaps someone may be able to fill in the gaps.

Curtsey of Michael Cradden Jnr - Feb 2007.

Mr. Tom Walshe's Confirmation Class of 1945. Third boy from the left
is James Curran born 1935 son of Paddy Curran, Paddy worked at
Thompsons and his other Son Martin work at the Cinema. Source:
CBS Golden Jubilee Journal 1936-1986.

Thanks to Liam
doc Kelly for this picture from 1983
of sixth class in the Christian brothers School on
Station Road, some great memories of the school,
thanks Liam

The picture was
taken following a local history talk that I (Mark
Lacey) gave to the school class in 1983., (year
given by Mark Lacey)....we then had a competition
for the students to write about the talk
content...they are holding their submissions /
compositions for which each received an award.

TREACY, PATRICK AMBROSE (1834-1912),
Catholic educationist, was born on 31 August 1834 at Thurles,
County Tipperary, Ireland. Educated at an academy and the local
Christian Brothers' school at Thurles, he excelled in mathematics.
In February 1852 he joined the Congregation of Christian Brothers,
Waterford. After eight years of teaching at Wexford schools he
became headmaster of the Christian Brothers' schools at Carlow.
Showing administrative skill he achieved high teaching efficiency
and improved school buildings and equipment. Read
his Bibliography